Grundig crew have their sights set on Gold Coast lights

Lisa Ratcliffe updates us on the CYCA's Gold Coast Race

1730hours: 27 July 2003

The crew of the Sydney Gold Coast Race leader Grundig have their sights set on the bright lights of the Gold Coast as the 66-footer from Sydney completes the final few miles in this 384 nautical mile passage.

Skipper Sean Langman has given an ETA across the finish line of 6.15pm with the second placed yacht, Ludde Ingvall's Luna Park Sydney some 30 miles astern and due in around 8.00pm tonight.

Overnight a further 11 boats are due to finish and Southport Yacht Club is busy preparing for their arrival, however Geoff Lavis from UBS Wild Thing has just reported the breeze has dropped to 5-8 knots from the south which will slow the fleet.

More stories of the toll of last night's heavy running conditions have emerged today with Geoff Lavis also reporting gear damage and huge amounts of water over the deck.

Chris Dare from the Victorian entry Stratcorp Ninety Seven managed to hang on to two fish that were washed into the cockpit long enough to take a photo to prove the catch before throwing them back in the sea.

Meanwhile the battle for handicap places is in overdrive with Andrew Cochrane's Pendragon still holding out Syd Fischer's champion Ragamuffin and the former Sydney Hobart overall winner Fitness First Sting (Terry Mullens) in the IMS handicap division, as of this afternoon's 1500hours radio position report.

The Farr 54 Espresso Forte (Laurence Freedman) was the current IRC overall leader ahead of Bill Wild's Corum and Grundig PHS handicap results have UBS Wild Thing leading Tony William's Balmain Experience and the oldest yacht in the 66-boat fleet Witchdoctor (Rum Consortium).

In the popular Sydney 38 One Design division, South Australian yachtsman Geoffrey Boettcher's Eye Candy is leading his interstate counterparts with Graham Gibson's Hidden Agenda in second and Gordon Ketelbey in third.